Simulated feeding decoy

Abstract

An apparatus for oscillating a flotation device on a body of water comprising attaching a rigid extension having a buoyancy container to the flotation device, placing the flotation device in the body of water such that the buoyancy container is filled with water and the flotation device and rigid extension rotate to a vertical position, and pumping gas continuously to the buoyancy container such that the buoyancy container will rise to the surface, rotating the flotation device and rigid extension to a horizontal position, thereby causing the buoyancy container to fill with water, further causing the flotation device and rigid extension to rotate to the vertical position, and to so oscillate between the vertical and horizontal positions continuously. A supply device that pumps the gas is located within the rigid extension, the buoyancy container, or the flotation device, and when the supply device is contained within the rigid extension or buoyancy container, the rigid extension plus buoyancy container can be removably attachable to any flotation device. The invention is useful for oscillating a duck decoy in the water to simulate feeding patterns, making the decoy more effective.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for oscillating a flotation device in a body of water, comprising: a) said flotation device having a first end and a second end;   b) a means for oscillating the flotation device comprising a rigid extension having a proximal end and an opposite end, wherein said proximal end is removably attached to said first end of the flotation device and said opposite end is adjoined to a buoyancy container having an opening; and   c) a means for supplying a gas to said buoyancy container.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, when said rigid extension is attached to said flotation device and said flotation device is placed horizontally on the body of water, said buoyancy container fills with water through said opening, thereby rotating the first end of the flotation device towards a vertical position into the body of water, such that said gas supply means fills said buoyancy container with gas, causing the first end of the flotation device to rotate back towards the horizontal position so that said buoyancy container refills with water and continuously rotates between the horizontal position and the vertical position, thereby oscillating said flotation device on the body of water.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said gas supply means is located within the oscillation means, such that the oscillation means may be removably attached to different flotation devices and provide oscillation to each such device. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said flotation device is a decoy housing for simulating feeding patterns of aquatic wildlife as said decoy housing oscillates in the body of water. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said gas supply means comprises a gas pump having a gas intake and an output, a motor, and a power source, such that when said motor is activated by said power source, gas is supplied into said buoyancy container by said gas pump. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said power source is a battery. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said motor may be turned on and off by a remote activation source. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second end of said flotation device is situated above the body of water prior to and throughout the oscillation of the flotation device and has an air opening for the gas intake of the pump. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising an air intake tube connected between said air opening and gas intake of said gas supply means. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a member for carrying gas from said output of said pump to said buoyancy container, wherein said member has a supply end coupled to said gas supply means and a container end coupled to said buoyancy container. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said member carries the gas from said gas supply means to said buoyancy container by way of said rigid extension. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said member further comprises a means for preventing water from leaking back through said tubular member to said gas supply means. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said prevention means is a valve within said member. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said prevention means is an inverted "u" trap, having a submerged portion and an unsubmerged portion, positioned so that water cannot leak through said submerged portion to said unsubmerged portion, wherein said submerged portion is adjoined to said buoyancy container and said unsubmerged portion is adjoined to the output of said pump. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said flotation device has a keel. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said proximal end of said rigid extension is capable of being removably attached to said keel, such that said keel is capable of providing a medium of intersection of said rigid extension and said member for transmitting gas to said buoyancy container, wherein said member is connected between said proximal end and said gas supply means. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said buoyancy container further comprises a weight for counterbalancing said oscillation means with said flotation device. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a means for controlling a rate of oscillation of said flotation device between the horizontal position and the vertical position. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said controlling means has a pre-sized opening in said buoyancy container. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said buoyancy container further comprises one or more baffles to create resistance to a flow of water into said buoyancy container, thereby controlling the rate of oscillation of said flotation device between the horizontal position and the vertical position. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flotation device has a skirt to deflect bubbles caused by gas produced by said gas supply device. 
     
     
       22. An apparatus for simulating feeding patterns of aquatic wildlife in a body of water, comprising: a) an aquatic wildlife decoy housing having a first end and a second end;   b) an oscillation means comprising a rigid extension having a proximal end adjoined to the first end of said decoy housing and an opposite end projecting outward from the first end of said decoy housing, wherein said opposite end is adjoined to a buoyancy container having an opening, said rigid extension and said buoyancy container being counterbalanced with said decoy housing so that when said decoy housing is positioned on the body of water said buoyancy container fills with water through the opening and descends into the body of water, thereby oscillating the first end of said decoy housing towards a vertical position in the body of water;   c) a means for supplying gas to said buoyancy container, wherein said gas supply means has a pump with a gas intake and an output, said gas supply means designed such that when the decoy housing has oscillated into the vertical position, the gas supply means fills said buoyancy container with gas causing said decoy housing to rotate back towards a horizontal position so that said buoyancy container refills with water and continuously oscillates the decoy housing between a horizontal position and a vertical position, thereby simulating feeding patters of aquatic wildlife;   d) a member for carrying gas from said gas supply means to said buoyancy container, wherein said member has a supply end coupled to the output of said supply device and a container end coupled to said buoyancy container; and   wherein said buoyancy container has a pre-sized opening and one or more baffles for controlling a rate of water flow into said buoyancy container, thereby controlling the rate of oscillation of said flotation device between a horizontal position and a vertical position.   
     
     
       23. An apparatus for simulating feeding patterns of aquatic wildlife in a body of water, comprising: a) an aquatic wildlife decoy housing having a first end, a second end situated above the body of water prior to and throughout the simulating of feeding patterns, a lower portion having a keel, a skirt positioned on said first end to deflect bubbles, and a means for supplying a gas, wherein said gas supply means has a gas pump having an output, a gas intake, a gas intake tube connected to said gas intake and to said second end, and a motor powered by a battery and activated by a switch;   b) a means for oscillating the decoy housing comprising a rigid extension having a proximal end adjoined to said keel under the first end of said decoy housing and an opposite end adjoined to a buoyancy container having an opening and positioned below said skirt, wherein said buoyancy container has a pre-sized opening for controlling the rate of water flow into said buoyancy container, thereby controlling the rate of rotation of said flotation device between a horizontal position and a vertical position, one or more baffles to create resistance to the flow of water into said buoyancy container, and a weight for counterbalancing said rigid extension and said buoyancy container with said decoy housing, such that, when said decoy housing is placed in the horizontal position on the body of water, said buoyancy container fills with water through said opening and descends into the body of water, thereby rotating the first end of said decoy housing towards the vertical position; and   c) a member traversing through said rigid extension for carrying gas from said gas supply means to said buoyancy container, wherein said member has a supply end coupled to the output of said pump, a container end coupled to said buoyancy container, a valve, and an inverted "u" trap, wherein said valve and said inverted "u" trap prevent water from leaking back towards said supply device;   wherein, when said decoy housing is placed in the horizontal position on the body of water, said buoyancy container fills with water through said opening, thereby rotating said decoy housing towards the vertical position into the body of water such that said gas supply means fills said buoyancy container with gas causing said decoy housing to rotate back towards the horizontal position so that said buoyancy container refills with water and continuously oscillates between the horizontal position and the vertical position, thereby simulating feeding patterns of aquatic wildlife.     
     
     
       24. A method for oscillating a flotation device on a body of water comprising the steps of: a) attaching to the flotation device a means for oscillating the flotation device, said oscillating means comprising a rigid extension having a buoyancy container;   b) placing the flotation device in the body of water such that the buoyancy container is filled with water and the flotation device and rigid extension rotate to a vertical position; and   c) pumping gas continuously to the buoyancy container such that the buoyancy container will rise to the surface, rotating the flotation device and rigid extension to a horizontal position, thereby causing the buoyancy container to fill with water, further causing the flotation device and rigid extension to rotate to the vertical position, and to so oscillate between the vertical and horizontal positions continuously.   
     
     
       25. A method as recited in claim 24, where the step of pumping gas is produced by a means for supplying gas located within the oscillating means, such that the oscillation means may be removably attached to different flotation devices and provide oscillation to each such device. 
     
     
       26. A method as recited in claim 25 further comprising the step of deflecting bubbles caused by the gas supply means. 
     
     
       27. A method as recited in claim 24 further comprising the step of controlling a rate of rotation of the flotation device between the horizontal position and the vertical position by controlling the rate at which the buoyancy container fills with water. 
     
     
       28. A method as recited in claim 24, whereby said oscillating simulates feeding patterns of aquatic wildlife.